Pipe header for forming gasket grooves in concrete pipe tongues



Aug. 24, 1965 G. POITRAS PIPE HEADER FOR FORMING GASKET GROOVES IN CONCRETE PIPE TONGUES Filed Oct. 7, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet l 8 4, 1965 G. POITRAS 3,201,844

PIPE HEADER FOR FORMING GASKET GROOVES IN CONCRETE PIPE TONGUES Filed Oct. 7, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. POITRAS Aug. 24, 1965 PIPE HEADER FOR FORMING GASKET GROOVES IN CONCRETE PIPE TONGUES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 001;. 7, 1963 United States Patent Q- A George I My inventionrelates to new and useful improvements in cbncretepipe headers designed to form the gasket groovein the tongue end or spigot of concrete pipes.

Conventional concrete sewer pipe is connected by a tongue and groove design or what might be termed a male and female spigot design wherein a length of pipe of a reduced diameter is formed on one end and an expanded bell spigot isforrned on the opposite end, adapted to re ceive the reduced end when two lengths of pipe are adjaoently connected together! .Present 'day developments of such concrete sever pipe incorporate a flexible gasket recessed within a circumferentially formed groove on the reduced diameter end which', ,when forced into engagementwithin the expanded bell spigot ofwan adjacent length of pipe, gives adequate seal.

This means that a groove has to be provided in the tongue 'orreduced shoulder end of the pipe to hold the gasket securely in position and this groove is normally formed during the process of manufacture of the tongue.

Conveutionally a ring is secured to the interior surface of the header mould, said ring being split and being manuf actured from steel, aluminum or other metal and this ring is retained in position under its own tension.

. Afterthe concrete pipe has been formed on the conventional machine and moved to a place for curing, the mould is stripped from the formed pipe. The head portion, how ever, remains on the pipe first to retain the roundness of the pipe until such time as the concrete pipe has gained sufiicient strength through curing to retain its own shape and secondly to retain dimensional stability to the groove in the tongue so that it will receive the gasket and form the proper connection between an adjacent length of pipe.

In order to strip the header from the pipe, the header ispulled upwardlybut if the pipe is not sufficiently cured or concrete sticks to the inside wall of the header, the ring which is under tension, cannot slide inside the header while it is being pulled upwardly so that the top portion of the pipe is fractured or damaged thus causing considerable loss'in production. 1

In order to limit the loss in pipe production, the pipes haveitobe cured to almost full strength before the headers are stripped and this, of course, means that the manufacturer has to have a relatively large number of headers which remain on the pipes during curing thus they cannot be used for pipe production immediately.

This means, of course, that the total amount of headers required for a relatively high pipe production represents a high investment cost.

I have overcome these disadvantages by providing a header having a groove forming component which is expandable so that it clears the concrete pipe during the withdrawal of the header, and retractable when in position so that the groove can be formed around the component.

This not only results in the reduction of spoiled or damaged pipes but also releases the headers for reuse as soon as the concrete is set up sufficiently to maintain its shape and dimensions.

The principal object and essence of my invention is therefore to provide a device of the character herewithin 3,201,844 Patented Aug. 24, 1965 described which includes an expandable and retractable groove forming component incorporated within the header mould construction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which reduces the number of damaged pipes in pnoduction.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a de= vice of the character herewithin described which provides means to limit the amount of expansion and contraction of the groove forming component for efiicient operation.

A still further object of 'my invention is to provide a device ofitlie character herewithin described which can be operated manually, pneumatically or hydraulically as desired.' Y

'A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed. With the foregoiugobjects in View, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to-whichthis inventtion relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially inthe arrangement-and construction of parts all as here inafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which: i

FIGURE 1 is atop plan view of the preferred embodiment of my device with the upper plate removed for clarity and showing the device inthe groove forming or retracted position. 7 FIGURE ;2 iis a sectional. view substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 but withthe upper plate in position. e 1

FIGURE 3 is a sideelevation of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a'view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the groove forming component in'the open or expanded position. 1 FIGURE 5 is a sectional view substantially along the line 5- 5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line indicated by the arrow 6 in FIGURE 2. I

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6'"but with the device taken along the line indicated by the arrow 7 inFIGURE-S. V i

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of mydevice, with the groove forming component in the closed or forming position.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 8 but witlithe groove formingcomponent shown in the open position. I 7 7 FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view indicated by the arrow 10 in FIGURE 9.

I In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding first ,to describe the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10, referenee'should bemade to the accompanying drawings in which a ring mould or header 11 is shown adapted to engage the upper end of .a conventional pipe mould (not illustrated) :but extending around the upper end of the pipe 12 to be formed therein.

This-ring mould comprises an upper annular ring 13 having a right angularly curved inner surface 14 which acts as the mould for the upper end 15 of the pipe spigot or tongue 16.

A lower annular ring 17 is secured to the upper ring by means of a plurality of bolts 18 extending through ofistanding lugs 19 formed around the periphery of both I ;An-annular1recess 24 is fornied ed to receive agroove forming component 25. V

withinlthelovver p ate 17., as illustra'tedin FIGURElO, saidjrecess. being adapt-re n e- This groove forming component is ,resilient and" hora;

' ma ls; b s d outwardly mah the same,- way? as {a pisto r :and t sprqv d d-r w thi n a nv a upper 8110111: ,1 der 26 which is adapted to engage a;downwardly1extend ing annularshoulder 27 upon the-upper plat e ;11 aflsfshown Y in :EIQURE l Qfand the'se s ders-g6 an z'lfl limit the inward movement ofi the; ring 25, contr olling accu-t ratelyr the-depth of the groove formed {thereby 228 within h 191 91 1 o Sp ot 2 Min th qqnfiret 'p p The j t a. movem n :o expan ed: osition or this is controlled-5b a pluralityofi adjustablegset' screws and nut's QQ engaging; through'gtheitlower; platefI'IT as a Y ;;E .G :R l 'anQe L ag i E-Lth ou'ter su fa ed-wearing:

ReferencetoFIGURES 8-a'nd L9 will show' that's thi's' ring is split asi; at SQ and thatZ-the'; afdjacent pends: 31,and i 32, of this ring ori component, '25, are provided withoff clearly" Isllo -m and 41 and having inner surfaces 58' acting as the inner-edgebfthecomponent forrning the gasket groove 59 within the. spigot'endofthc pipe..

' These segments a'r'efsituated posedpairs, segments 55 and 54; forming one pair and segments 56 and 57 forming thefother pair;

7 Each "segment; is :inountedfbetvveen theTplatesf by the provision, of anoif standing'iarrn '66 secured to each seg-r a; pivot pink-" in an adjacent I mentiand extending I to quadrant oflthe header. 7; i a

-f-ThiSf arrangement "is clearly shovvnin IfIGURES 1 andy iran 'as anf'exarnp leftheipivot pin specifically des- ,igi g'nat'ed 50". carries; the,;arrri;60- which extends from segstanding lugs; Z Sj-land 34; 11A] simple ov'er- .:center lever i system s p ov dedacompr a '1ifikr35: s le y one end to;thei lug 33;andtan'operating-lever.3'61engage, able by, one end to fthe lug 3,4: 'The'tother; end 3710f the 1 link 5 is tp otallyl connected I intermediate the {ends of L the lever 36 a's clearly shown. a

4 When in the POSltlOhllShQWlIfih' When it is desiredito mm the pipe aiid groove hovv ever thehandle 56;isindvedin lithe idirectiori fo'f arrriv'v"3 8v so that it takes up thefposition shown ,in FlGURfi- 'v'vhich urges the ring?intozithe gro'ove fo'r'mihgfpotsitionj 'herent'resilicncy of the rifigror: coni'ponent zs urges sanie foutwardly to the position-"ishowmirr- EIGUREiIO .against the stops'ionstuds 22 so thatthezheader ioin'ponn tfcan V :bef lifted clearrof formed spigotjor'atonguewithoutithe' 7 ring in; any way. fQu i-HgrthQjhPPCF POI JJ of the groove t 28 W V v p A ment 56 which isifinz theadjacent quadrant of the header Q assembly, fit beings-understood that thetterm; fijuadran refers, toithe: plan viewsiof lthezldrawings shovv'n in: FIG

Each :segrnent also :is iprovided ivvithianlioffstanding' lug 54?,"55 ,'--56'-and 57!} and referencextoithedrawings/will show 'thatfthe. alu'gs; of adjacent-segments of;- opposed pairs are situated substantially. in spaced and? parallel relation- I ship, one withgthe other namely lugs and56 and lugs These' pairs of are linked hy rneans" of an: hydraulic '1orlpneumatic ipistorr"andhylinder-lasfirrlblyr 61 adapted to expand or cont-ract the segments to whichi they' are 7 attached; 7

It is :to assemblies: aare'iconnected to a conventional source of pneumatic or hydraulic power (not illustrated) and-pontrolled by -valvesrin the nsfiarmanne r within the header'n'ioiildso" that the concrete pipe" can be a formed, in-the." conventional manner with the components :0 V i.i f i"4 's;;The preferred embodiment ofiimy' nvention isshown-in 25 acting as a mould for the groove '28.

FIGURES 1 to-7 inclusive and includes a-r ingcomponerit-- 'i or header mouldl'collectively'designated 39 whichjcon'sists of an upper annularplate tt), alower' annul'ar' plate 41-;fi 'and ca. groove forming component collectiv y--designated The upper annular. plate is centrally :a'pert'u "d a 43 to v allow-ingress I of th'e' concrete and farming? tool in f the :conven-tiorial m'anner', said upper plate the horizontal, portion 44 and the" down turned. annular flange-- vention'ial in construction;

1It is of'course necessar to'i-limit'the 'ut-vvard niovemerit of Y the segriri'ents i and fl have provided upstanding f-QIt isf-also necessary- 4 I I 5 the segments and thus -the depth of' thegroove formedthereby aridin thislconnection I provide blocks 64 se- 7 cured to thei-lower xplate adjacent the inner edge 65' thereo'f 'and nutassernblies' 66 upon the segments engageahle by ,adju stab'lel lock-nut and bolt assemblies 67 and reference to FIGURE 4\vill show the operation of the lugs ,Z engaging thef'li rni't steps 62 v vhereas FIGURE 1' shows the operation of the stop assemblies 66 engaging the blocks 'Itshould ihe noted that: the aforementioned arrns 6 0 are see r dto the segments alternatively upon the upper SillIfa'C;and "fil lower surface thereof so that diagonally portion 5 45 formed cinthel underside of this iplate; said a flange-i actingtas a' moul'd for theiupp'er portionf46 "of the tongue or spigot end; 47 of the concrete pipe b ng' ,forrn ed" V y 6- machine; 5. ,7

Thelower plate 41 includes-a o on'tal ic rcular flange] 48i1wTith an: upstanding vertical anfiillarf'flange ,49fformetl. it

opposites''grnents 55 and ST'are provided with arms secured to the upper surface thereof ;andfl diagonally opposites'e g'rnents54 and 5 6'are provided with arms. secured ance of'the 'arlns' where portion-5 50 otthe spigot end 41of the 'cbheret elpipefi Thesetwo plates-are maintained/ im spaced and parali lel relationship by the provision of plurality" of, pivot pins 50" surrounded 'by bushings 51,'f-the furtherfpurpos'efl of which will hereinafter be; described.

Wardly to engage over theupper'erid 5 1 the pipethus' v automatically centering the h e pand'e'd position shovvn'finf FIGURES, 4 and 5,11; win he that a s am 'p eSs tfb t e n s m 5 i aha 1 54' andI segmefnts 56f a and 5 but that fvyhen 'the segments 'aireinitlf"lgroove f rnin'gposition, asfshown inFIG- URE 1, 'thesefgaps a of course' takeiiztup' hy-thezcon traction the segment radially rewards theZcenter;

lt'willt'alsofbe appreciated'tha't' some'devicejis required 7 to span the'gapsbetween'j s'eginentts1156farid 57 and" between segrnentsi'54and55 and refere ce to.FIGURES 6 an hohldh noted-as they show details of. these de- I A' box-'typeichiinnl "tionf 72 preferably made ofjrublier or similar vlniater ialandhe "secured 'vvithinthejchannel o1: box se c' 69 'liy rneansofset'screws 731 T V I -,A;lternatively, 7 these "flexible; hridging' pieces tcan he 2 9 5 o 1 3 pv q t e bgxl'y a n ls' .2 by nysnr.

in' which I define as opappreciated that these piston and cylinder 7 -lim th'e inwardmoyeinem bf "*WhenTthe' piston and cylinderi'as'seinblies 61 same,

p 7 r er'nlir; 69 is ton-adjacent ends'floerthe segments 'by means of bolts 71, saidbox channel being adapted vto receiye'a 'resilient bridging portional means thus eliminating the necessity of the set screws 73.

In operation, the device is seated upon the upper end of the pipe mould 51, being automatically centered by the lugs 52.

A source of compressed air or fluid is routed to the piston and cylinder assemblies 61 to contract the piston and cylinder assemblies so that the segments take up the position shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 6 thus con- 7 tracting the groove forming component segments to the groove forming position.

This position is, of course, controlled by the adjustable stop assemblies 66 and the relevant blocks 64.

The pipe is then formed by the conventional roller head, concrete being forced around the interior of the header component and the protruding or retracted groove forming segments as clearly shown in FIGURE 2.

As soon as the pipe has cured sufiiciently for self support, pneumatic or hydraulic pressure is applied to the piston and cylinder assemblies causing them to expand to the position shown in FIGURE 4. In this connection it will be appreciated that either the piston or cylinder will move first until the relevant lug 55 or 56' for example, engages the stop means 62 whereupon the opposite portion will expand to its full position thus ensuring that the segments expand radially and equally to the position shown in FIGURES 5 and 7. It will be appreciated that the segments are now expanded sufficiently to clear the groove walls completely so that the header can be pulled from the pipe without any danger of damage occuring by means of the segments jamming against the pipe wall.

This means that a minimum number of header assemblies are required and they can be put back into use just as soon as the pipe has cured sufliciently for self support.

Since various modificaitons can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims Without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accomapnying specifications shall be interpreted as illustartive only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a groove forming apparatus for concrete pipe tongues, the combination of a base ring and a top ring adapted to encircle a pipe tongue, a left-hand pair and a right-hand pair of posts connecting said base ring and said top ring together in spaced relation whereby to provide an annular space between said rings, a sectional groove forming component disposed between said rings and comprising a left-hand pair and a right-hand pair of quadrants radially projectable and retractable through said annular space between the rings, a left hand-pair and a right-hand pair of control arms rigidly connected to the respective quadrants in the respective pairs and pivotally mounted on the respective posts in the respective pairs, means movably connecting together adjacent ends of the quadrants in each pair, and fluid operated means reacting between the left-hand and right-hand pairs of quadrants for projecting and retracting the same through said annular space.

2. The apparatus as defined in clairnl wherein said fluid operated means comprise a left-hand pair and a righthand pair of lugs projecting laterally outwardly from the adjacent end port-ions of the respective quadrants in the resepctive pairs, and fluid operators reacting between the left-hand and the right-hand pairs of lugs.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 together with adjustable stop means provided on one of said rings and coacting with said lugs to limit the extent of retraction of said quadrants.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with adjustable stop means provided on said quadrants and coacting abutment means provided on one of said rings to limit the extent of projection of the quadrants.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means movably connecting together adjacent ends of the quadrants in each pair are resiliently flexible.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said resiliently flexible means comprise resilient blocks interposed between and rigidly secured to the adjacent ends of the quadrants in each pair.

'7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said posts on which said control arms are pivotally mounted are located intermediate the circumferential span of said quadrants.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 02,549 7/ 84 Dorsett 25--127 769,771 9/04 Seamans 25-121 3,114,956 12/ 63 Gannaway 25-39 3,124,857 3/64 Delisle 25-39 FOREIGN PATENTS 208,058 12/23 Great Britain.

WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner.

MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, Examiner. 

1.. IN A GROOVE FORMING APPARATUS FOR CONCRETE PIPE TONGUES, THE COMBINATION OF A BASE RRING AND A TOP RING ADAPTED TO ENCIRCLE A PIPE TONGUE, A LEFT-HAND PAIR AND A RIGHT-HAND PAIR OF POSTS CONNECTING SAID BASE RING AND SAID TOP RING TOGETHER IN SPACED RELATION WHEREBY TO PROVIDE AN ANNULAR SPACE BETWEEN SAID RINGS, A SECTIONAL GROOVE FORMING COMPONENT DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID RINGS AND COMPRISING A LEFT-HAND PAIR AND A RIGHT-HAND PAIR OF QUADRANTS RADIALLY PROJECTIBLE AND RETRACTABLE THROUGH SAID ANNULAR SPACE BETWEEN THE RINGS, A LEFT-HAND PAIR AND A RIGHT-HAND PAIR OF CONTROL ARMS RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO THE RESPECTIVE QUADRANTS IN THE RESECTIVE PAIRS AND PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE RESPECTIVE POSTS IN THE RESPECTIVE PAIRS, MEANS MOVABLY CONNECTING TOGETHER ADJACENT ENDS OF THE QUADRANTS IN EACH PAIR, AND FLUID OPERATED MEANS REACTING BETWEEN THE LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND PAIRS OF QAUADRANTS FOR PROJECTING AND REACTING THE SAME THROUGH SAID ANNULAR SPACE. 